House votes to keep ban on aid to foreign pro-abortion groups

WASHINGTON -- The House voted Wednesday to preserve President Bush's policy prohibiting $425 million in U.S. aid for global population assistance from going to groups that advocate abortion rights.

The provision, which passed 218-210, was attached to an $8.2 billion State Department reauthorization bill still being debated on the House floor. Thirty-two Democrats joined Republican supporters in passing the bill.

The House also passed a controversial amendment sponsored by Democratic Rep. Tom Lantos of California that would withhold about $625,000 in aid to Lebanon until that country secures its borders near Israel. The measure, which passed 216-210, also would direct the president to develop a plan for terminating millions of dollars in other aid if the Lebanese do not comply within six months.

The abortion provision prompted the most intense debate on the bill.

Bush signaled his support for abortion foes early on, implementing the aid ban by executive order during his first week in office. But Democrats on the House International Relations Committee included a provision overturning the president's order in the committee's version of the bill. Wednesday's amendment removed that from the bill.

Democrats attacked the policy as detrimental to international family planning efforts and dubbed it a ''global gag rule'' that assaulted the free speech rights of organizations abroad. Republicans argued that abortion does not belong in the family planning discussion.

''I think it is important we not be hypocrites in dealing with this legislation,'' said Lantos, who also serves as the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee. ''It is not enough to talk about human rights and democracy. It is important we practice what we preach.''

Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri said the issue was simple. ''Do we empower women and families across the globe with the ability to plan for the number of children they will have? Or do we pull the rug out from under these important efforts?''

Democrats pointed out that a 1973 federal law already prevented foreign organizations from using U.S. taxpayer money to pay for abortions. But GOP leaders accused foreign organizations of shifting money around to fund abortion efforts.

''Nobody is being gagged,'' said Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., and chairman of the International Relations Committee. ''If you want to talk about abortions, talk away. But not on our dime.''

''Abortion is not family planning,'' said Hyde, a longtime leader of anti-abortion efforts in the House. ''Family planning is helping you get pregnant or keeping you from getting pregnant. It is not killing an unborn child after you become pregnant.''

President Bush had threatened a veto if lawmakers overturned his policy. Spokesman Ari Fleischer indicated Wednesday that the president could support the overall bill now that the abortion issue is resolved. ''Unless there's something else in there, the president will be supportive,'' Fleischer said.

Wednesday's action drew dozens of lawmakers to the floor for an emotional debate. At one point, leaders extended the debate to accommodate the numerous members who wanted to speak.